It was a thrilling Champions Cup clash as Bath Rugby saw off Toulon 26-21 at the Rec.

An Anthony Watson brace, a try from Beno Obano and 11 points scored by Rhys Priestland were enough to take the hosts to the top of Pool 5.

Rugby writer Daniel Evans has picked out his talking points from the game...

1. Bath have missed their scavenger…

What a difference Francois Louw makes in these big games. When you’re playing a team as powerful as Toulon you need to find a way of getting that ball back somehow.

The Springbok scavenger was the main exponent of that, but others chipped in too. Henry Thomas snaffled a loose ball, Obano held up a maul to earn a scrum and others managed to get their heads and hands in dangerous places to spoil the visitors’ momentum.

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2. The win should do Bath the world of good…

Todd Blackadder may well be right. Even though Toulon are not having a great season, they’re still one of the top sides when it comes to European competition and beating them is never a small achievement.

Having lost games late this season and last, Bath needed a confidence boost and, although the fans still had to endure some tense defensive moments at the death, the win should add belief to the squad.

To have lost another close one would have been shattering.

Ben Tapuai breaks clear of Alby Mathewson and Chris Ashton

3. Tom Dunn may not be ignored for long…

The 25-year-old hooker has two major obstacles in front of him if he is going to make his England debut in the Six Nations - Red Rose skipper Dylan Hartley and Saracens’ Jamie George.

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He is, quite simply, a tackling machine. For the second week running he broke the Champions Cup record for tackles in a match – 33 following 31 away to Toulon.

He didn’t miss a single one. In the international arena that's a real weapon, especially with Dunn's chopping style, because once he brings a player down it would allow the likes of Sam Underhill, Chris Robshaw and Maro Itoje to win turnovers.

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4. Bath need to iron out their second-half lulls...

Bath have shown they have the determination to play for 80 minutes, but they are still suffering second-half lulls.

Their ball gets slower, their ruck clearouts not as efficient, their passes not as accurate. It's almost as if they put in such an effort in the opening quarter it's not until the final 20 minutes that that they have regathered their breath.

It means even when Bath win they are not often afforded the luxury of having the game tied up by 60 minutes and the ability to rest players.

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5. Aled Brew has truly earned a new deal...

The rejuvenated Welsh winger no signs of dropping his standards. Whereas last season some of his aerial work could be inconsistent, he has been as solid in the air in recent weeks as he has been strong the carry.

There was a moment when he was one-one-one with Francois Trinh-Duc.

Had Brew put in some footwork he might have scored. Not Brew. He ran full steam into him and ended up coming worse off.